Towing truck



March 14, 1944. .1. B. FISHER TowING TRUCK Filed May 14, 1942 .sla

1 l I l I l I l l 1 l I I I l l l I l I l l l Il INVENTOR.

\ l I l l I I l l I l I l l I l i I l I l l l IJ Patented Mar. i4, 1944 `morso sr res 'rowING TRUCK James B. Fisher, Waukesha, Wis., assignor to Waukesha Motor Company, Waukesha, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May I4, 1942, Serial No. 442,949

7 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicles intended for use in towing boats or other objects disposed to one side of the vehicle, which vehicle may, for example, be in the form of a towing truck.

I have illustrated my invention, by way of example, as embodied in atruck intended for towing ships through a canal. It is to be understood, however, that within the broader aspects of my invention it may be embodied in any other type of vehicle suitable for towing objects other than ships.

It is known to tow ships through a canal or portions thereof, such as the canal locks, by means of a power driven truck traveling along a retaining wall or other suitable structure at one side of the banal. Such towing trucks 'usu ally are provided with an arm xed to the chassis or frame of the truck and projecting beyond one side thereof for attachment of the cable by means of which the ship is towed, so that the cable clears the supporting wheels and other portions of the truck. In such a truck the pull on the cable tends to turn the truck about the point at which the towing arm is secured thereto, thus swinging one end of the truck in one direction `and the other end in the opposite direction. That is objectionable in that it renders diiiicult maintaining the truck upon its proper course, during travel thereof, and also cause eX- cessive wear of the truck tires and wheels while subjecting the truck as a whole to objectionable stresses.

My invention is directed to a towing vehicle or truck in which the above noted objections to the present type of towing truck are avoided. More particularly, I provide a truck having a towing arm connected thereto'in such :manner that the load is applied substantially at the center of the truck frame or chassis, by-means of a towing arm so arranged that there is no objectionable tendency to swing or turn the truck about the point of attachment of the towing arm. This arm is formed in two sections normally rigidly secured together, one of which is pivoted at the center of the truck for swinging movement about a vertical axis, these arms being provided with means for leading a cable along them to an effective point of attachment of the cable to the truck centrally thereof, the portion of the cable led along the sections of the arm constituting, in effect, two sides of a parallelogram of forces such that the resultant of the pull on the cable passes through the center of the truck frame or chassis. In order that the truck may be used for towing` in either direction, Iprovidemeans whereby relative adjustment between `vthe sections of thearm may be made and these sections may then be rigidly secured together. Further `objects and advantages of my invention will lappear from the detail description.

In the drawing:

Fig-ure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic plan viewof a towing truck embodying-my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially ony line 2-2 of Figure 1, certain parts being broken awayyand Figure 3 is a sectional view, yon an Aenlarged scale, taken substantially on line 3,-.3 of Figure '1, )with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown inlelevation.

Conveniently, the truck,` designated generally by the reference number i, comprises a chassis or frame 5 suitably mounted on a pluralityy of ground wheels l, in a known manner, which may be provided with pneumatic tires. The kchassis or frame 5 may bel of suitable construction, including channel side sills 'l connected together by suit-ably spaced transversely ,extending YI- beam 8. At the central portionv of chassis I provide two I-beams 8 spaced a short distanceapai't and connected by two :short I-beams 9 disposed lengthwiseof frame 5 and also spaced a short distance apart. The flanges of the two central I-beams 8 and of the I-beams 9 .are suitably formed to t about a cylindrical bearing sleeve i9 extending vertically throughframe 5 at the center thereof and provided, atits upper end, with an outwardly extending circumferential -lange H seating on the top vflanges of the I- beams 8 and 9. A ange ring I2 is screwed on the lower end of sleeve Iiiand seats against the bottom flanges of I-beamsl and 9, ring lzbeing lockedinv position infany .suitable manner, conveniently by means oi a-bolt I3 passing through Athe bottom flange of one of the beams :.9 and threading into ring l2. `Sleeve .l is .thus connedagainst vertical movement-and isfhelclv securely inl position, providing a tubular ,bearing member'or sleeve located --centrally o-f lframef, providing convenient v means for attaching to frame 5 centrally thereof atowing arm I5'.

Towing arml :comprises-an outer section l5, preferablyof YcircularA cross section, assho-wnin 'Figure 3, and an-inner section Il, :alsoipreferably of circularcrosssection,l this --inner ysection being of approximately L-shapeprovidingn an outer horizontalym'ernber 178' and fan inner- Vertical member 19. `Member I9 vcomprisesa cylindrical' tubular neck- -2il fitting `througlfisleeve-1| 0 for turning movement therein aboutv a--vertical is secured against turning movement on neck 2|]k A boltf mounted in the head of section I6 thus plvoted to section I1 and is located at the point of tangency between cable 29 and either of the sheaves aboutwhich this cable passes.

In Figure 2 the truck is shown as traveling along the top of a retaining wall w, which may be formed of concrete and located at one side of a canal. If it is desired to tow a ship in the direction indicated by the arrow a shown in Figure 1, the cable 29, suitably attached to the ship, is lead upward therefrom through the sheaves 42 l at the end of section I6 remote from section I1 lin any suitable manner, conveniently by means Y,

of a set screw 24. The lower portion of vertical member I9, which member comprises neckr 29 and ange ring 22 and bolting flange 23, is `provided with an outwardly extending flange 25 suitably secured, conveniently by bolting, to the bolting flange 23. Section I1 of the towing arm I5 isthus mounted on frame 5' for swinging movement about a vertical axis locatedlcentrally of the frame. Y

Vertical member I9 of section I1 is provided, at its lower portion, with an enlargement 26 which accommodates the outer portion of a. cable refceiving sheave 21 rotatably mounted, by means of a pin 28,'.to turn about a horizontal axis. The sheave 21 `extends'.inwardlyof member I 9 to the central portion thereof for reception of a towing cable 29 which: passes therefrom upwardly through vertical member I9, including the neck 20, axially thereof. Cable 29 passes over a sheave 36, mountedfor rotation about a horizontal laxis by meansV of asheave pin 3| mounted in the upper ends of appropriately shaped and disposed brackets 32 suitably secured to frame 5. From the top of sheave 30 the cable passes between two sheaves 33. mounted forrotation about vertica1 axes on the upper ends of posts 34 suitably secured to frame 5.V Cable 29 then passes to a winding drum 35'secured ,on a horizontal shaft 36 rotatably mountedv in .a suitable known manner in end supporting frames 31 appropriately mounted on the chassis or frame 5. Shaft 36 may bedriven from a powerplant, 38, through a suitable known reducingand controlling unit 39, for driving drum` 35,in either direction and winding the cable onto and oi of the drum as required, it being understood that shaft 36, and, therefore drum` 35, normally islocked against rotation in ,either direction. The power plant 38 is indicated. diagrammatically in Figure 1, and

ymay beof any suitable known type and located as 'shown or in any'other suitable location, it being understoodthat appropriate driving connections are provided'between the power plant and the ground wheels 6 for propelling the vehi- Y cle, as well as'suitable control and steering means, all of which iswell known in the art and need not be illustrated nor described in greater detail.

The outer arm section I6 is tubular and may be of circular cross section for substantially its full length. V.At eachjend section I6 is provided with a head Vcomprising upper and lower flat plates 40 and 4|, respectively, which receive between .themtwo cable sheaves 42 mountedffor rotation about vertica1 axes. The head at the end'oiv section I6 adjacent section I1 llits between upper and lower plates 43 and 44, respectively, constituting a head at the outer end of section I1, and'have secured therein bearing pins 45 extending through bearingcollars 46 carried by plates 43 and 44, conveniently formed integrally therewith. The pins 45A are so disposed that their common axisgpasses ,between the sheaves 4g of the towing arm, the latter then occupying the position shown in Figure 1, then between the sheaves 42 at the other end of section I6 and from the latter sheave about sheave 21 and thence upward over sheave 33 and between sheave 33 to drum 35. The towing cable is thus guided through and along sections I6 and I1 of the towing arm so as to provide two runs of the cable respectively parallel with the arm sections, and the cable is effectively attached or connected to the truck frame at the point of tangency between sheave 21 and the vertical run of the cable, for pulling the load. The drum 35 provides convenientl means for varying the effective length of the cable asconditions may require, while also providing anchorage' for the cable. In that connection, it will be noted that dmm 35 is disposedA above frame 5, adjacent the rside thereof at which section I6 of the towing arm is located, whereas the effective point of attachment of the cable to the truck frame, located on the vertical 'axis about vwhich the towing arm swings, is lofcated below frame 5. That relation between the drum and the point of attachment of the cable is of advantage in that, by the opposite reactions of the cable, it greatly reduces or eliminates any tendency toward lateral tilting of the truck, the disposition of the point of effective attachment of the cable to the truck below frame 5 being of particular advantage in that respect.

When vthe towing armV is disposed as shown in rfull lines in Figure 1, with the sections I6 and I1 thereof in the angular relation shown, section I6 is rigidly secured to the outer end of section I1 so as to eliminate the possibility of relative movement therebetween. That may be eiected in any suitable manner, conveniently by means of a locking pin 48 passing through aligned openings in plates 43 and 44 and through a heavy boss 49 secured to the outer side of section I6, in its position shown in full lines in Figure 1, conveniently by being formed integrally therewith, this pin in cooperation with the pivot pins 45 and associated parts effectively securing the arm sections I6 andV I1 rigidly together.

During the towing operation, with the Vtruck traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow a, the cable 29 is of course under tension and the load is transmitted to the truck at the point of tangency between sheave 21 and the verticall run of cable 29, the portion of the cable passing along the arm sections I 6 and vI1 being disposed in angular relation and constituting, in

' effect, two sides of a parallelogram of forces the resultant of which isvindicated by the line r and passes through the center of frame 5. Theload is thus applied at the Acenter of the truck frame and there is no tendency to cause turning of the truck with resulting excessive Wear of the truck tires or wheels and objectionable stresses, above referred. e

When` it is desired tovtow a ship in the opposite direction, Vthat is, in the directionindicated by the dotted line arrow b shown in Figure l, the towing arm is swung from its full line'position to its dotted line position. In order to accomplish that, the locking pin l is withdrawn thus permitting arm i6 to be turned about the pin 45 into position to extend from the other side of section Il, that is, from the side of section Il opposite 4to that from which section l extends in its full line position, after which the sections I5 and Il are rigidly secured together, by inserting pin d8 through aligned openings in plates 43 and lil and through a second lug i9 at the other side of section iii. The operation of the towing arm and the truck during travel of the latter in the direction indicated by the dotted line-arrow b is the same as when the truck is traveling in the direction of the arrow a, and need not be repeated. In either case, the towing arm disposes the cable outwardly beyond the side of the truck so as to clear the ground wheeis thereof as well as the truck body, and the effective point of attachment of the cable to the truck is disposed centrally of the truck frame or chassis 5, as and for the reasons previously stated.

I have illustrated my invention, by way of example, as applied to a towing truck in which it is desirable that the resultant of the forces of the runs of the cable lead along the arm sections !S and Il pass through the center of the truck frame, for reasons previously explained. In the broader aspects of my invention, however, that is not essential in certain cases, in which the resultant may pass through some other suitably located point of the truck or vehicle frame. For example, in towing a plow by means of a tractor, a towing arm comprising angularly related sections dispose to maintain the cable clear of the tractor and mounted for swinging movement about a vertical axis is advantageous, even though the resultant of the forces to which the cable is subjected does not pass through the center of the tractor frame. Accordingly, I intend to include within the scope of my invention the provision of a towing arm having angularly related sections disposed and mounted in the manner and for the purposes herein broadly disclosed.

I claim:

l. In combination, a power driven vehicle comprising a frame, a towing arm comprising an inner section extending generally transversely of and outward beyond said frame and an outer section rigidly secured to said inner section and extending generally lengthwise of and spaced outwardly from said frame, said inner section being pivotally mounted on said frame and free therefrom for swinging movement about a vertical axis in the use of said vehicle for towing, and means for guiding a towing cable along said sections of said arm to provide two runs of said cable respectively substantially parallel with the arm sections and for attaching said cable to said frame, said guiding and attaching means cornprising means for transmitting the load on the cable during the towing operation to said frame at a point substantially on the axis of swinging movement of said inner section.

2, In combination, a power driven vehicle comprising a frame, a towing arm comprising an inner section extending generally transversely of and outward beyond said frame and an outer section rigidly secured to the outer end of said inner section and extending therefrom generally lengthwise of said frame, said inner section being pivotally mounted on said frame substantialfil) ly` at the center thereof vand free therefrom for swinging movement about a vertical axis in the use of saidvehicle for towing, and means-for guiding a towing cable along said sections of said arm to provide two runs of said cable respectively substantially parallel with the arm sections and for attaching said cable to said frame substantially centrally thereof.

3. In combination, a power driven vehicle comprising a frame, a towing arm comprising an inner section and an outer section, said inner section being of generally L-shape providing a substantially vertical member pivotally mounted centrally of said frame for swinging movement about a vertical axis and a substantially horizontal member rigidly secured to one end of said vertical member extending therefrom outward beyond said frame generally transversely thereof, said outer section being rigidly secured to the outer end of said inner section extending therefrom generally lengthwise of said frame, and means for guiding a towing cable along said sections of said arm to provide two runs of said cable respectively substantially parallel with the arm sections and for attaching said cable to said frame substantially centrally thereof.

4. In combination, a power driven vehicle comprising a frame, a towing arm comprising an inner section and an outer section, said inner section being of generally L-shape providing a substantially vertical member extending upward through said frame centrally thereof from below mounted to swing about a vertical axis and a substantially horizontal member rigidly secured to the lower portion of said vertical member extending therefrom outward beyond said frame generally transversely thereof, said outer section being rigidly secured to the outer end of said inner section extending therefrom generally lengthwise of said frame, and means for guiding a towing cable along said sections of said arm to provide two runs of said cable respectively substantially parallel with the arm sections and for attaching said cable to said frame substantially centrally thereof. v

5. In combination, a power driven vehicle cornprising a frame, a towing arm comprising an inner section and an outer section, said inner section being of generally L-shape providing a sub.- stantially vertical member extending upward through said frame centrally thereof from below mounted to swing about a vertical axis and a substantially horizontal member rigidly secured to the lower portion of said vertical member extending therefrom outward beyond said frame generally transversely thereof, said outer section being pivoted to the outer end of said inner section for relative adjustment about a vertical axis into either of two positions extending in either direction from said inner section generally lengthwise of said frame, means for securing said outer section in either position relative to said inner section, and means for guiding a towing cable along said sections of said arm to provide two runs of said cable respectively substantially parallel with the arm sections and for attaching said cable to said frame substantially centrally thereof.

6. In combination, a power driven vehicle comprising a frame, a towing arm comprising an inner section `and an outer section, said inner sectionbeing of generally L-shape providing a substantially vertical member extending upward through said frame centrally thereof from below mounted to swing about a vertical axis and a substantially horizontalmember rigidly secured tothe lower portion of said vertical member extending therefrom outward beyond said frame generally transversely thereof, a pair of cable receiving sheaves mounted at each end of said outer section for rotation about vertical axes, means pivoting said outer section at one end to the outer end of said inner section for relative adjustment about a vertical axis extending between the two sheaves at said one end into either of two positions extending in either direction from vsaid inner section generally lengthwise of said frame, meanslfor leading a cable from said pairs of sheaves along said inner section-to an effective point of attachment substantially at the center ofY said frame, and means for rigidly securing said outer section inv either ofits said adjusted positions. Y

7. In combination, a power driven vehicle com prising a frame, a towing arm comprising an inner section and an outer section, said inner section being of generally L-shape providing a sub'- stantially vertical member extending upward through said frame centrally thereof from below mounted to swing about a vertical axis and a substantiallyy horizontal member rigidly secured lto the lower portion of said vertical member extending therefrom outward beyond said frame generally transversely thereof, a pair of cable receiving sheaves mounted at each end of said outer section for rotation about vertical axes, ymeans pivoting said outer section at one end to the outer end of said inner section for relative adjustment about a vertical axis extending between the two sheaves at said one end into either of two positions extending in either direction from said inner section generally lengthwise of said frame, a cable winding drum adjacent the upper end of said vertical member, and means for leading a cable from said pairs of sheaves along said inner section and vupward to said drum comprising a sheave carried by said vertical member and a sheave mounted thereabove disposed to receive a verticalirun of the cable extending substantially axially of said vertical member.

JAMES B. FISHER. 

